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Former Collinwood girls track coach Lou Slapnik selected for a Ohio coach hall of fame

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CLEVELAND, Ohio - Former Collinwood girls track coach Lou Slapnik has been selected to the Ohio Association of Track and Cross Country Coaches Hall of Fame. Slapnik, who retired in 2010, led the Railroaders to nine state championships in 17 seasons, including 41 individual event state winners. The nine titles rank third in state history, behind Beaumont's 16 and...

Former Collinwood girls track coach Lou Slapnik has been selected to the Ohio Association of Track and Cross Country Coaches Hall of Fame.

CLEVELAND, Ohio - Former Collinwood girls track coach Lou Slapnik has been selected to the Ohio Association of Track and Cross Country Coaches Hall of Fame.

Slapnik, who retired in 2010, led the Railroaders to nine state championships in 17 seasons, including 41 individual event state winners. The nine titles rank third in state history, behind Beaumont's 16 and Minster's 12.

Collinwood also won Jesse Owens City Championships in all of Slapnik's 17 seasons.

Slapnik, 58, is a graduate of St. Joseph and Ashland and taught physical education for 29 years in the Cleveland public schools.

The induction ceremony is Jan. 27 in Columbus.


Off the ice with ... Lake Erie Monsters center Eric Hunter

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A quick conversation with an avowed Eric Lindros and Sidney Crosby fan.

monsters-hunter-mug.jpgView full sizeMonsters center Eric Hunter would have been a hockey coach if he wasn't on the ice.

Born: Aug. 11, 1986, Winnipeg, Manitoba.

Ht/wt: 6-1, 200.

Shoots: Left.

Signed: By Lake Erie to an AHL contract.

Q: Best hockey advice received?

A: Good question. A friend I used to play with said, "Make sure you have confidence in yourself."

Q: Best active hockey player on planet?

A: Sidney Crosby.

Q: Athlete admired as a youngster?

A: Eric Lindros.

Q: Favorite sports growing up?

A: Hockey and football. Hockey was always No. 1; I started playing when I was 4.

Q: Most goals scored in a game?

A: I think I had six when I was 9.

Q: Best hockey city?

A: Montreal.

Q: Favorite venue you ever played in?

A: The Saddledome in Calgary.

Q: Smartest person you ever met?

A: My grandfather, Walter Coupland.

Q: Favorite class in school?

A: Mathematics.

Q: If you could be one active athlete right now, who?

A: Maybe Aaron Rodgers. He's got to be one of the best all-around athletes out there.

Q: Wildest thing witnessed in rink as fan or player?

A: The other night against Hamilton, when we knocked two of their guys into our bench.

Q: What do you like to do away from rink?

A: Spend a lot of time with my wife, Kristine. Spend a lot of time at the dog park with our dog.

Q: Describe Monsters coach David Quinn in 15 words or fewer.

A: Intense.

Q: So one word is all you need.

A: He's a good motivator. He's passionate. He cares more than anybody.

Q: If not a hockey player, what?

A: Hockey coach.

Q: Favorite meal?

A: Chicken Alfredo.

Cleveland Cavaliers reportedly prepared to waive guard Baron Davis

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If guard is released, Cavaliers would be roughly $10 million under the salary cap

Cleveland Cavaliers beat Miami Heat, 102-90View full sizeBy using the new NBA labor agreement's amnesty clause to release Baron Davis, the Cavaliers would still be liable for the two years and $28 million remaining on Davis' contract, but they would clear that number off their salary cap while making for an easier transition to the starting lineup for rookie Kyrie Irving.

INDEPENDENCE, Ohio -- Baron Davis was due to arrive in Cleveland on Thursday night in preparation for Cavaliers' training camp, which opens Friday.

How long the point guard remains in town is unclear.

The Cavaliers are planning to waive Davis through the amnesty clause once a new collective bargaining agreement is official, according to Yahoo Sports. The Plain Dealer has not confirmed the report.

The possible move comes on a day of seismic shifts in the NBA as stars and big-ticket free agents reportedly are headed to big markets yet again. It also comes on the evening players ratified the new agreement struck by owners and the union on Nov. 26.

Sources told the Plain Dealer two days ago the Cavaliers would take a methodical approach to arguably its biggest pre-season decision, perhaps letting Davis play an exhibition game or two before reaching a verdict.

It would hardly come as a surprise, however, if the franchise paid Davis his roughly $28 million due for the next two seasons and released him into free agency. Club payroll would be around $48 million – or about $10 million under the cap. But the rebuilding Cavaliers are not as concerned about cap space as they are getting the ball into the hands of top overall draft choice Kyrie Irving.

The 19-year-old Duke product is expected to start at point guard. There has been talk of possibly playing Irving and Davis, 32, in the same backcourt.

Davis has been one of the league’s most discussed amnesty candidates.  Few teams have said yet whether they plan to use the one-time only provision allowing teams to cut and pay players while also getting relief for salary-cap and luxury-tax purposes. Teams can exercise it through the life of the new CBA but not during the regular season.

In other words, the Cavs must make a decision before Dec. 25 on whether to amnesty Davis.

Trade talk and handshake free-agent agreements reached frenetic levels Thursday, one day before teams could open camps and announce deals. New Orleans guard Chris Paul reportedly is on the verge of becoming a Los Angeles Laker as part of a blockbuster three-team deal involving New Orleans and Houston. Free agent Tyson Chandler also is close to signing with the New York Knicks.

Despite all the competitive balance rhetoric during the 149-day labor impasse, top-flight players are still finding their way larger markets.

If Davis becomes a free agent New York and Miami are possible destinations although teams under the salary cap would get first dibs at as part of the new secondary bidding process. Cavaliers fans would loathe the thought of Davis joining James in Miami.

The Cavaliers are not expected to be significant players in free-agent market, but shedding Davis’ salary – he was supposed to make $13.9 million this season – would bring them under the cap and give them ample flexibility.  

General manager Chris Grant has not been adverse to swinging trades in his 16 months on the job. After all, he acquired Davis last season and made the final deal before the lockout bringing Omri Casspi here from Sacramento in exchange for J.J. Hickson and a first-round draft pick. He's amassed at least six first-round picks through 2015, not counting the Kings' lottery-protected selection.

Davis’ future with the Cavs is expected to share top billing along with the arrival of Irving as camp opens.

More to come.  


Ohio State's Jared Sullinger feeling better after back spasms, status for Kansas game still uncertain

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The OSU sophomore told Thad Matta he woke up dancing on Thursday, but the Buckeyes may not know until Saturday if he can play.

jared-sullinger-marvin-fong.JPGThe Buckeyes hope Jared Sullinger is ready to get back on the court at Kansas on Saturday.

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- As a former AAU teammate, Aaron Craft has seen Jared Sullinger handle something like this before. Craft saw Sullinger maybe get worn down by a game, maybe not feel so great physically, and "then come out and have 40 points and 20 rebounds," Craft said Thursday.

Ohio State would take that kind of bounceback on Saturday. For now, the Buckeyes are still waiting to see whether their star big man can play at No. 13 Kansas after sitting out No. 2 Ohio State's last game, a win over Texas-Pan American, because of back spasms caused by an aggravated disc.

Sullinger has been limited, but not completely sidelined, during practice this week, with OSU finals giving the team a week off between games. The sophomore player of the year candidate didn't speak with reporters on Thursday, but his coach and teammates painted a picture of a guy getting closer to the court.

"He just told me he feels great," coach Thad Matta said. "He said he feels a lot better. He said he woke up dancing this morning, but I don't know what that entails."

It would seem to entail a 6-9, 265-pounder able to be more like himself. Beyond the back issue, Satch Sullinger, Jared's father and former high school coach, has said he believes plantar fasciitis, a serious but common foot inflammation, led his son to adjust his stride, which created the back problem. Matta said that wasn't his understanding of how the injury arose, but when Sullinger walked on and off the court last Saturday he wasn't limping, but was clearly taking his time.

"He was walking around really gingerly four, five days ago," Craft said. "But he's looking better walking. He's got the bounce back in his step."

Matta, though, told the Sullingers that he is focused on the big picture, not one nonconference game in December, though it is the Buckeyes' first road game of the season against a team with size. The Jayhawks are led by 6-9, 237-pound Thomas Robinson, who averages 17.4 points and 12 rebounds, while 7-footer Jeff Withey averages 8.5 points and 6.3 rebounds.

Matta called Robinson the best player Ohio State will have faced this season.

"He does so many different things, probably a lot like Jared," Matta said.

Without Sullinger, the Buckeyes would be relying on junior Evan Ravenel (6-8, 260), sophomore Deshaun Thomas (6-7, 225) and freshman Amir Williams (6-11, 220) to hold things down inside. With Sullinger, the Buckeyes can hang with any team in the paint.

Matta said the Buckeyes are working on adjusting their game plan for either scenario. But they won't know which team will take the floor until they get to Lawrence, Kan.

"He's doing more every day. Quite honestly, I don't know if we'll know until Saturday if he's going to play or not," Matta said. "It's amazing how much better he's moving, but we've got two more days to look at it."

In the end, Matta said the decision will rely mostly on how Sullinger feels. Though the Buckeyes will be cautious, there isn't a great fear about making the situation worse. Without class during finals week, and without full practices to wear him out, Sullinger, according to his roommate Ravenel, has been "pretty energetic" this week, just not as mobile.

That could mean he's gearing up for the kind of return that Craft has seen before.

After a quiet trip to Texas, Cleveland Indians still hopeful for deals: Winter Meetings Insider

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GM Chris Antonetti is hopeful he'll be able acquire a player or two in the coming weeks.

josh-willingham.jpgView full sizeThe Indians continue to have interest in Oakland free-agent OF/1B Josh Willingham, but have not made the 32-year-old slugger an offer.

DALLAS, Texas -- Asked about his reaction to Albert Pujols signing with the Los Angeles Angels, Indians GM Chris Antonetti said, "I would have preferred that he stayed in the National League."

The Angels signed Pujols to a reported 10-year, $254 million deal early Thursday morning. Then they signed left-hander C.J. Wilson to a reported five-year, $77.5 million package. Those signings followed a week in which the Miami Marlins signed Heath Bell, Jose Reyes and Mark Buehrle for a combined $191 million.

The Indians countered with five days of talk. Their only player move was designating prospect Hector Rondon for assignment to make room on the 40-man roster for Grady Sizemore. Rondon, recovering from right elbow surgery, cleared waivers Thursday and was outrighted to Class AAA Columbus.

Antonetti was not surprised at the amount of money that the Marlins and Angels spent. When asked about being able to compete with teams with that kind of payroll, Antonetti said, "It's our job to find a way to stay competitive, to figure out a way to win.

"It doesn't necessarily make it any easier, but that's part of the business. We have to challenge ourselves to make the best decisions we can and just focus on what we can do to improve our team and win as many games as we can."

Antonetti left the meetings feeling he was just a couple of text messages away from making a deal.

"I think we were further some of the discussions we've had on trades and free agents while we were here," he said. "Hopefully, that has led us closer to a deal that will allow us to improve the team.

"It could happen very quickly. There are some things we could be relatively close on. As we've said a bunch of times, the timing may change and it will take weeks for it to happen."

Outfielder Josh Willingham is one player the Indians have discussed. He's a right-handed hitter with power, but the Indians have yet to make an offer. Willingham, who made $6 million last year with Oakland, is seeking a three-year deal.

The Twins are interested in Willingham if they can't re-sign Michael Cuddyer. Jason Kubel and Cuddyer turned down arbitration offers from the Twins on Wednesday. First baseman Derek Lee turned down the Pirates' arbitration offer. The Indians have expressed interest in the right-handed hitting Lee, but so far it hasn't been returned.

Reliever Francisco Rodriguez did accept arbitration and it could cost the Brewers over $11 million on a one-year deal.

The Indians traded for Derek Lowe and signed Sizemore before the start of the meetings.

Minor matters: The Indians lost two players in the Class AAA phase of the Rule 5 draft.

The Twins took right-hander Marty Popham from Class AA Akron. Popham was 0-1 with a 7.24 ERA in 22 appearances, including 16 starts at Akron. He was 6-2 with a 4.19 ERA in 22 games, including 16 starts at Class A Kinston.

The Marlins took outfielder Donnie Webb off Akron's roster. Webb hit .214 (56-for-256) with 10 doubles, three triples, two homers and 24 RBI in 85 games. He stole 14 bases in 19 attempts.

On Twitter: @hoynsie

NBA owners and players OK new collective bargaining agreement: It's now official -- training camps open Friday

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Five-month lockout officially ends. Ten-year deal promises owners savings of perhaps a quarter billion dollars a year but largely leaves intact soft salary cap system that the players fought to maintain.

jamison-varejao.jpgAntawn Jamison (4) and Anderson Varejao (17) will be among the veterans on hand when the Cavaliers begin their 42nd NBA training camp on Friday.

NEW YORK, New York -- NBA basketball is back.

Calling it a "new beginning in a way," Commissioner David Stern announced that owners and players ratified a new collective bargaining agreement Thursday, the final step to ending the five-month lockout and paving the way for training camps and free agency to open Friday.

The 10-year deal promises owners savings of perhaps a quarter billion dollars a year but largely leaves intact the soft salary cap system that the players fought hard to maintain.

Stern and Deputy Commissioner Adam Silver announced the deal during a press conference, putting an end to nearly two years of difficult negotiations that resulted in the second shortened season in NBA history. A 66-game schedule will begin on Christmas and run through April 26, forcing every team to play on three straight nights at least once.

Owners approved the deal, which allows either side to opt out after six years, by a 25-5 vote. The players' association said 86 percent of the more than 200 players who voted electronically approved the deal.

Owners also agreed to an expanded revenue sharing plan, and Stern called the agreement of both plans "a watershed moment" for the league.

Saying they lost hundreds of millions a year under the old collective bargaining agreement, ratified in 2005, and believing that it favored large-market teams, owners sought significant changes in these negotiations. They refused an option to let the CBA run another year and opened the process in January 2010 with a proposal that called for a hard cap, the elimination of guaranteed contracts, rollbacks of current salaries and a massive reduction in the players' share of basketball-related income.

Owners locked out the players on July 1 when the old deal expired, and they reached a tentative deal on the main issues around 3 a.m. Nov. 26, heading off the potential of a canceled season and avoiding a possibly costly and lengthy court battle if the players had proceeded with the antitrust lawsuit they had filed in Minnesota.

The remaining issues finally were agreed to late Thursday morning, after players already had begun voting electronically.

Though owners insisted they wanted competitive balance just as much as a chance for profit, there's no proof yet they achieved it. Trade rumors involving All-Stars Chris Paul of New Orleans and Dwight Howard of Orlando had them landing in major markets, whose teams cleaned up during most of the old deal, when the Lakers, Celtics and Mavericks claimed the last four championships.

But Stern said the "tortured journey" was worth it, insisting that more teams will have an opportunity to compete.

 

Cleveland Browns have all guns ready to fire

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Colt McCoy, Peyton Hillis, Montario Hardesty all active and ready to go.

mccoy-hit-steelers-gay-jg.jpgView full sizeColt McCoy will start at QB for the Browns, trying to avoid hits on his sore right knee by the Steelers.

PITTSBURGH -- The Browns might be banged up, but they'll be nearly in full force for tonight's game against the Steelers.

Safety T.J. Ward, who was ruled out on Monday, is the only player of note on the Browns' inactive list. As usual, Usama Young will take Ward's spot.

The Steelers, meanwhile, will be without starting outside linebacker LaMarr Woodley. Jason Worilds is his replacement.

Other Browns inactives: QB Thad Lewis, OL Steve Vallos, OL Oniel Cousins, TE Jordan Cameron, LB Quinton Spears, DE Auston English.

Other Steelers inactives: QB Dennis Dixon, LB Chris Carter, DE Al Woods, OT Jamon Meredith, WR Arnaz Battle, WR Emmanuel Sanders.

One other note, the Browns are dressed in all white for the 13th consecutive game. The Steelers won't be in their usual black and gold, however. They're wearing some goofy alternative uniform with black shirts.

 

Achievement is a constant drive for Brunswick's Selena Pasadyn, national finalist for female High School Heisman

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Pasadyn is a throwback to the dark ages of the early 2000s, when teenagers somehow survived without texting and Facebook.

pasadyn-portrait-vert-family.jpgView full size"I think I like to stay busy and stimulated, and going from sport to sport definitely helps me keep doing that," says 16-year-old Brunswick High School star Selena Pasadyn, one of six national finalists for the female High School Heisman to be awarded Saturday. "I want to make my parents, my school, my teammates proud."

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Brunswick distance runner and swimmer Selena Pasadyn has been ahead of her time since she was reading at age 4, beginning second grade at 5, and breaking school sports records as a 12-year-old freshman.

Now a 16-year-old senior, what sets Pasadyn apart isn't her rapid advancement, it's her old-school approach to being a teenager. As a three-sport athlete with a 4.74 grade-point average, she really is on the go.

Friday night, she and her family will be in New York for Heisman Trophy festivities, as one of 12 national finalists for the female High School Heisman. The award is given to male and female student-athletes based on athletic and academic achievement and community involvement. The winners will be announced tonight. They will be recognized Saturday on ESPN during the college football Heisman Trophy presentation.

Like the Heisman itself, Pasadyn is a throwback. She harkens back to the dark ages of the early 2000s, when teenagers somehow survived without texting and Facebook.

"I don't have a Facebook page and don't have texting," she said.

Pasadyn doesn't have the time. When the need arises to tell friends something, she actually talks to them. When she does have spare time, usually in the summer, she does something even more old-fashioned.

"I like to catch up on my reading," she said. She's talking books, not Tweets.

"The Hunger Games and Harry Potter books for fiction. I liked The River of Doubt, about Teddy Roosevelt and some of his travels, for nonfiction," she said.

Check out a Plain Dealer feature on the 12-year-old Pasadyn in 2008.

There has been no doubt about Pasadyn's torrent of success in the classroom and athletic arena for Brunswick High, even though she always has been at least two years younger than her peers.

Pasadyn, who has an October birthday, got a jump on school from the start. Because she learned to read early, she began kindergarten as a 4-year-old and quickly was promoted to the first grade. So, she was 5 when she began second grade.

"I always felt like I was stimulated academically, and since I wasn't faltering there, I wasn't concerned about the other aspects," she said. "I've been making some great friends with my fellow peers and I really don't have any regrets or doubts."

Her father, Leon, said it was natural to second-guess the decisions he and his wife, Jeannine, made as Selena entered middle school at 9 and high school at 12. Selena adjusted academically and socially each year.

"Every step of the way, she succeeded," he said.

Selena said she has never received a B. Her course load this fall includes advance-placement chemistry, AP literature, AP European history, AP environmental science and honors physics. Advanced-placement classes are worth additional points toward a grade-point average, thus she has earned a 4.74 GPA on a 4.0 scale.

pasadyn-running-2011-family.jpgView full size"I'm not sure I've ever coached anybody that knows herself so well," says Brunswick cross-country coach Kerry Hunter of Selena Pasadyn, "and knows what it takes to be good."

On the four AP course tests she has taken thus far, she received perfect 5s. Her ACT college entrance score was a 33 out of 36. An average score is about 21. For college, she is choosing among Case Western Reserve, Columbia, Cornell, Harvard, Washington University in St. Louis and Yale, and she plans to purse a career in medicine while continuing to run cross country and track.

Being a 16-year-old freshman next fall will be another big step for Selena, who at 5-2 and under 100 pounds with long brown hair, looks even younger.

"I don't have any fear she'll be able to handle college academically," Jeannine Pasadyn said. "My fear is, will she be able to handle college at 16? She's not worldly, but she doesn't party it up, and she's always made wise decisions."

Selena recently took a recruiting trip by herself to Columbia in New York City, flying for only the second time in her life. When flight attendants learned she was a minor traveling alone, they introduced her to the pilot as if she were a kid, which she is. What they didn't know was that she was on an NCAA recruiting visit and, if given a few lessons, probably could learn to fly the plane home.

This fall, she helped lead Brunswick's cross-country team to the Division I state championship. She owns school records in cross country (18:15), track records in the 1,600-meter run (5:03) and 3,200 (11:00), and swimming records in the 500 freestyle (5:24) and 200 individual medley (2:18). She is a captain of each team.

She first broke the Brunswick cross country record when she was a 4-foot-8 freshman, and was the youngest high school athlete in Ohio anyone could ever recall.

Her community involvement includes volunteering at Medina General Hospital, where her father is a registered nurse. She is an altar server at Our Lady of Grace Church in Hinkley and teaches vacation bible school. Selena makes it all look so easy, but it's not.

"Not every day is happy and great," said Jeannine. "Her schedule is very rigorous. I couldn't do what she does.

"She has this innate drive. She sets goals and doesn't stop."

Selena has learned to set aside down time to play with her three younger sisters, or to watch her favorite TV shows, "The Office" and "Parks and Recreation." She said competing in cross country in the fall, swimming in the winter and track in the spring doesn't wear her down, but keeps her fresh.

"I think I like to stay busy and stimulated, and going from sport to sport definitely helps me keep doing that. Each is a totally different exercise and having that alternating is beneficial for cross training," she said. "I want to make my parents, my school, my teammates proud. That's additional motivation, as well."

Speaking to Pasadyn can be like conversing with a college professor. It's obvious she's well read. She talks in thoughtful, self-aware paragraphs. More than a few people have asked her if she's interested in politics.

Her self-awareness translates to sports as well. Cross-country coach Kerry Hunter remarked that not only is Pasadyn an extremely hard worker and well prepared for every practice and meet, but "I'm not sure I've ever coached anybody that knows herself so well and knows what it takes to be good."

One area Selena will have to catch up on quickly are the sports stars she'll be rubbing shoulders with in New York. Of the five college football Heisman Trophy finalists, she's familiar with one.

"Andrew Luck is one of the favorites and he's from Stanford, and I find that very respectable," she said. Luck is also the son of former Clevelander Oliver Luck, who played at St. Ignatius, which is a block from the birthplace of John Heisman.

"Good," she said. "We'll have some things to talk about."

Chances are, Luck will get an education.

On Twitter: @TimsTakePD


Cleveland Browns' hope for an upset of Pittsburgh rests with McCoy-Batch matchup -- Bud Shaw Blog

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This is a much better matchup for the Browns when it's Colt McCoy vs. Charlie Batch instead of McCoy-Ben Roethlisberger.

bigben-hurt-browns-2011-ap.jpgView full sizeBen Roethlisberger needed considerable help to get off the field following his second-quarter ankle injury Thursday night against the Browns.

PITTSBURGH, Pa. -- This is a much better matchup for the Browns when it's Colt McCoy vs. Charlie Batch instead of McCoy-Ben Roethlisberger.

Roethlisberger was 8-for-9 for 102 yards and a touchdown when he left the game injured late in the second quarter.

Whatever advantage that gave the Browns -- at least in the first half -- was frittered away when they wasted great field position.

They used all their timeouts to force a Pittsburgh punt inside the 3:00 mark. Then curiously, they came out with Montario Hardesty at running back instead of Peyton Hillis from the Pittsburgh 43.

With Hillis on the bench, Hardesty ran for three yards, McCoy threw incomplete deep, then missed tight end Alex Smith short. The Browns punted without possessing the ball for even a minute.

Pittsburgh's 7-3 lead at the half wasn't the worst news for the Browns or McCoy, who held his own except for a bad Troy Polamalu interception.

 Pat Shurmur seemed to sense that he had to let McCoy throw against Pittsburgh. The Browns actually stretched the field, getting timid only when they settled for a field goal at the Pittsburgh 2-yard line instead of going for the TD.

That's how 4-8 teams playing on the road go 4-9. But Pittsburgh fumbles and the injury to Roethlisberger kept them alive to fight -- at least for another half.

Ben Roethlisberger's injury keeps Cleveland Browns within reach of Steelers, 7-3 -- Halftime update

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Steelers QB Ben Roethlisberger is knocked out of the game on a sack, and Pittsburgh clings to its 7-3 lead

roethlisberger-out-browns-jk.jpgView full sizeBen Roethlisberger had completed eight of nine passes against the Browns, but the Steelers' offense slowed to a halt after Roethlisberger left with a left-ankle injury Thursday night.

PITTSBURGH, Pa. -- Notes, observations and some facts on the second quarter between Browns and Steelers:

• The Steelers' offense continues rolling until Roethlisberger's pass to Hines Ward slips through Ward's hands when he's hit by Browns LB Kaluka Maiava. Fumble! Safety Sheldon Brown recovers at the Browns 15.

• A wild sequence of events over the span of one minute includes a Colt McCoy interception (thrown straight to Troy Polamalu) and a fumble by Steelers tight end Heath Miller after he's hit by cornerback Joe Haden. The exchange means the Browns start from their 9 with 12:30 left in the second quarter.

• Evidently the second quarter is Montario Hardesty's quarter, as he's now getting the carries instead of Hillis. He has gains of 1, 3, 4 and 2 yards. Not spectacular, but not horrible. Hillis stands on the sideline, helmet on and ready to go.

• On third-and-20 after a Ben Watson unnecessary roughness penalty, the Browns hand off to Chris Ogbonnaya, who gains 28 yards up the middle. It ends up for naught, however, when Hardesty can't get the first down.

• The Browns best defensive play: Knocking Ben Roethlisberger out of the game. When he's sacked by DL Scott Paxson and Brian Schaefering, his left lower leg is twisted beneath Paxson. He limps directly to the locker room with 5:59 remaining. Charlie Batch enters the game, and the Steelers can't get a first down.

• Press box announcement says Josh Cribbs has suffered a groin injury and his return is questionable. Jordan Norwood returns the Steelers' punt in place of Cribbs.

• McCoy's pass intended for Ben Watson on third-and-2 from the Browns 44 is low -- despite lots of time to throw -- and the worst is not that the Browns punt. Watson is helped off the field by trainers when he's hit hard while trying to make the catch.

• News flash: Charlie Batch is not Big Ben. Browns LB D'Qwell Jackson sacks Batch on third-and-3 from the Steelers 14.

• News flash: McCoy is not Big Ben, either. The Browns start their drive from the Steelers' 43 and hold onto the ball for just 1:01. McCoy's deep touchdown attempt to Jordan Norwood is broken up by Steelers CB William Gay, and Troy Polamalu was in the area, too. McCoy is lucky that one wasn't picked off.

• Press box announcement says Watson is out for the game with a head injury.

• More injuries pile up as Steelers center Maurkice Pouncey is out with an ankle injury. His return is questionable. Still no official Roethlisberger update, but there is an update on how well he was playing: 8-for-9, 102 yards, one TD.

Cleveland State hangs on for 62-58 victory over Robert Morris

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Senior forward Tim Kamczyz made five of six free throws the last 34.7 seconds to help Cleveland State hang on.

MOON TOWNSHIP, Pa. -- Senior forward Tim Kamczyz made five of six free throws the last 34.7 seconds to help Cleveland State hang onto a 62-58 victory over Robert Morris Thursday night in suburban Pittsburgh.

The Vikings (9-1) carried a 16-point lead into the final 10 minutes before the Colonials mounted a rally. Kamczyz overcame the pressure to make five straight free throws after missing the first one. They were his only points in the game.

"I don't like to think about that," the 6-7 Kamczyc said. "Missing that first one, I tried to put it out of my mind and go from there."

A Jeremy Montgomery 3-pointer put CSU up, 53-37, with 9:43 to play. That was the last 3-pointer the Vikings would make, but not the last one they would take.

"[Tre] Harmon (24 points) and Montgomery (10), they were hitting some deep, deep shots," Colonials guard Velton Jones said. "I guess they were feeling it."

Perhaps sensing a knockout blow coming, Montgomery and Harmon flipped long bombs on several occasions, allowing the Colonials to rebound and get hoops at the opposite end to steadily close the gap. On several occasions CSU head coach Gary Waters was stomping his feet and flailing his arms, screaming "too many 3s!"

Add in some untimely turnovers and the Vikings let the Colonials get within 57-56 with 49.4 seconds to play. Moments later Kamczyc came off a pick and roll, took the pass and was fouled going to the basket. He made one of two. Jones then drove hard to the hoop, but missed a half-floater, half-layup that Kamczyc hauled in.

"It's a shot I work on all the time," Jones said. "I probably should have used the backboard."

Kamczyc was fouled with 17.9 seconds to play and made both free throws, then two more with 1.9 seconds left to send CSU home a winner.

The Colonials entered the game on a three-game roll, including a road conquest of neighboring Duquesne, 64-60. The Colonials were holding teams to 40.1 percent shooting and out-rebounding their opponents as well.

Last season, the Vikings won a nailbiter with the Colonials, 58-53, in Cleveland, so this game had trouble written all over it. The Vikings were whistled for fouls early and often with the Colonials shooting the bonus with 14:11 left in the opening half. Sitting on the bench with two each were the Vikings' top two defenders, D'Aundray Brown and Harmon.

But the Colonials could not take advantage of all their charity, going six of 14 from the line.

"The beginning of the game was blah," Robert Morris coach Andrew Toole said. "That's where we should have taken advantage of the game."

The Vikings found their rhythm late in the half as Harmon his a 3-pointer just as the whistle blew on a Robert Morris foul inside. That was the start of a 15-7 run, anchored by a layup from Harmon and another 3-pointer to give the Vikings their first lead, 22-21.

Harmon beat the halftime buzzer with a 3-pointer to give the Vikings a 27-24 lead. Harmon delivered 13 of his 14 first-half points during the final 8:49.

Harmon kept showing the way offensively in the second half just as the Vikings' pressure defense kicked in. The Colonials finished with 21 turnovers.

To reach this Plain Dealer reporter: ealexand@plaind.com, 216-999-4253

Both offenses are hobbling as Browns and Steelers labor on -- Third-quarter update

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It's not quite as dramatic as Willis Reed, but Ben Roethlisberger is back. He hobbled out at halftime, tossed a few warm-up passes, and limped to position as the Steelers started their drive.

mccoy-sacked-steelers-jk.jpgView full sizeColt McCoy and the Browns offense was being stifled by the Steelers defense through the first three quarters Thursday night.

PITTSBURGH, Pa. -- Notes, observations and some facts on the third quarter between Browns and Steelers:

• It's not quite as dramatic as Willis Reed, but Ben Roethlisberger is back. He hobbled out at halftime, tossed a few warm-up passes, and limped to position as the Steelers started their drive.

• Roethlisberger is walking gingerly on that left foot and doesn't appear too mobile, but he's making the plays that need to be made -- including a 22-yard pass to Jerricho Crotchery and a series of limping handoffs.

• How much of Roethlisberger's injury is real and how much is for effect? Because the way he's moving, he shouldn't be out there. Even with him, the Steelers can't score. Pittsburgh's punt is downed at the Browns 10.

• It's the battle of tough QBs as Colt McCoy is hammered by Steelers linebacker James Farrior when McCoy is a good 2-3 yards out-of-bounds. Farrior earns an unnecessary roughness penalty that moves the ball to the Steelers 43, and McCoy pops right back up and in the game.

• The Browns still can't get within scoring range, and Brad Maynard punts on fourth down from the Steelers 45. His fourth punt within the 20, this one at the 10.

• Roethlisberger is still limping each time he hands off, but its enough for the Steelers to be successful. Running back Rashard Mendenhall is getting the bulk of the work, with occasional Roethlisberger passes thrown in to keep the Browns honest.

Cleveland Browns face Pittsburgh Steelers | photo gallery

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See photos from the Cleveland Browns and Pittsburgh Steelers from John Kuntz and Joshua Gunter.

See photos from the Cleveland Browns and Pittsburgh Steelers from John Kuntz and Joshua Gunter.

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Hobbled Ben Roethlisberger leads Pittsburgh Steelers to 14-3 victory over Cleveland Browns

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Steelers QB leaves game in second quarter with ankle injury, but plays the entire second half as Browns just can't make a big offensive play to pull off upset.

gay-intercept-mass-2011-vert-jk.jpgView full sizeWilliam Gay denied the Browns their last best chance at an upset victory with this interception of a Colt McCoy pass intended for Mohamed Massaquoi (rear) late in the fourth quarter Thursday night at Heinz Field.

PITTSBURGH, Pa. -- In some ways it resembled a Browns-Steelers game of yesteryear. Defense reigned in a slugfest that knocked both starting quarterbacks out. Both returned. Colt McCoy had the last turnover and Ben Roethlisberger the last laugh.

The Steelers prevailed, 14-3, for their 15th win in the last 16 meetings and 21st in 23. The Browns dropped to 4-9. The Steelers inched into first place in the AFC North with a 10-3 record.

It wasn't easy for the Steelers. The Browns knocked Roethlisberger out in the first half and forced three Pittsburgh turnovers. The last, an interception by safety Mike Adams with 7:10 to go, gave the Browns a chance to win.

After two completions, McCoy was knocked out on a vicious hit with the crown of James Harrison's helmet to McCoy's facemask while attempting to throw on the run. After the penalty was walked off, the Browns had the ball at the Pittsburgh 19.

McCoy left the field extremely slowly. Seneca Wallace came in and on his second play completed a 13-yard pass to Evan Moore at the Pittsburgh 5. Then McCoy bounded back onto the field.

"He was fine to go back in," coach Pat Shurmur said after the game.

In two plays, the Browns were pushed back to the 16 after McCoy was called for intentional grounding while barely avoiding Harrison's mean chase. On third down, McCoy had time in the pocket, but threw short and behind Mohamed Massaquoi in the left corner of the end zone. It was intercepted by William Gay.

Wallace was one of the first players out of the locker room following the game.

Roethlisberger, who returned to play the whole second half, connected on second down with Antonio Brown at the Steelers' 34 as Joe Haden slipped and fell. Brown zig-zagged through the Browns defense all the way for 79 yards and the clinching touchdown. It wrecked a tough performance by the Browns' defense.

Besides knocking out Roethlisberger and forcing three turnovers, the Browns turned in a sublime goal-line stand in the fourth quarter. They stopped running back Rashard Mendenhall four times inside the 2. Linebacker Chris Gocong made the first two stops and assisted on the last two.

Roethlisberger, limping throughout the second half, finished with 16 completions in 21 throws for 280 yards, two touchdowns, one interception and a passer rating of 129.6. He won for the 13th time in 14 games against the Browns.

McCoy was 18 of 35 for 209 yards, two interceptions and a 46.0 rating. He was courageous, as always, but fell to 0-8 in games against the Browns' division rivals and 0-2 against the Steelers.

The Browns quieted the Heinz Field crowd with a surprisingly efficient field-goal drive to start the game. But Pat Shurmur's decision to kick a 20-yard field goal on fourth down from the 2 loomed large at the end.

The Steelers later lost two fumbles. But nothing deadens this place like the sight of Roethlisberger laying on the ground in pain. It happened with 5:59 to go in the second quarter. On first down from his 16, Roethlisberger escaped some pressure and scanned the field. Brian Schaefering stormed in and hit him high and Scott Paxson hit him low. Roethlisberger's left leg twisted as he crumbled to the ground.

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Roethlisberger is known for sometimes over-dramatizing the effects of his numerous sacks, but this time he was really hurt. The Steelers said the injury was a high ankle sprain. After several minutes on the ground, trainers led him directly to the locker room. The hush inside the stadium was loud.

Later in the quarter, Pro Bowl center Maurkice Pouncey left with an ankle injury. So even though the Steelers held a 7-3 lead at halftime, the Steelers were in big trouble.

Roethlisberger grabbed the lead on a snappy drive after the Browns' opening salvo. He completed all four of his passes, the last an 11-yard touchdown to Jerricho Cotchery with Jayme Mitchell draped on the big passer.

But Roethlisberger's next two possessions ended in fumbles forced by the Browns. Linebacker Kaluka Maiava popped the ball loose after a Hines Ward interception and Sheldon Brown recovered. That takeaway started a ping-pong sequence of turnovers. Three plays later, McCoy couldn't get the ball over safety Troy Polamalu throwing for Evan Moore and Polamalu intercepted and returned it 33 yards to the Browns' 10.

After a false-start by right tackle Marcus Gilbert -- one of two he committed in the half lined up opposite Jabaal Sheard -- tight end Heath Miller coughed off the ball on a nice hit by Joe Haden and D'Qwell Jackson recovered. The Browns couldn't do anything with that turnover, either. They punted four times in the half. Brad Maynard did his part, pinning the Steelers at their 10-, 5-, 7- and 21-yard lines.

Yes, it did look like the Browns overextended themselves on offense on their opening drive of 78 yards. McCoy threw with authority and his receivers actually held on to his passes. McCoy converted one first down on a hurried throw to Benjamin Watson and then completed another of 33 yards to Moore on a high catch over linebacker Lawrence Timmons.

McCoy made another nice play on a pump-fake and then throw to Josh Cribbs for 25 yards to the Steelers' 5. Two plays later from the 2, McCoy dropped back, saw the middle open and scooted and dived for the end zone. Officials signaled touchdown. But after an automatic replay review, it was ruled that McCoy's arm hit the ground at about a half-yard short. On third down, Peyton Hillis was swarmed for a loss back to the 2.

With his season already shot and nothing to lose, Pat Shurmur elected to take the field goal. Phil Dawson chipped it through from 20 yards.

"The first drive of the game there, you want to get points," he said in explanation.

It was only the second time the Browns scored on their opening drive. But nobody back home would have faulted the coach for going for the touchdown there and coming up short.

On Twitter: @TonyGrossi

Cleveland Browns quarterback Colt McCoy isn't winning games or supporters in campaign to keep job: Bud Shaw

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McCoy's candidacy to return in the job for next season brings the usual mixed results with a loss to the Steelers in Pittsburgh.

colt mccoy.JPGView full sizeColt McCoy looked sharp during the Browns' first drive on Thursday, but it was a mixed bag for the rest of the game.
PITTSBURGH, Pa. — What we know about Colt McCoy after Thursday night's 14-3 loss is that he can take a cheap shot as well as a punch.

Beyond that, we know he's better than Charlie Batch but not a one-legged Ben Roethlisberger.

The hope in a lost season was McCoy would do something to sway the voting in his incumbency campaign. And while he impressed early, no TDs, a 46.0 quarterback rating and two interceptions -- one he'll remember and one he may not -- managed to put a damper on the early returns.

McCoy didn't do himself or his team any favors returning to the game after a vicious helmet-to-helmet hit from Steelers linebacker James Harrison. An intentional grounding, then a weak throw into blanket coverage in the corner of the end zone sealed the loss.

Head coach Pat Shurmur said McCoy was "fine to go back in," even after Seneca Wallace's 13-yard completion to tight end Evan Moore moved the ball to the Steelers' 5 in a 7-3 game.

Calamity, an ever-present companion for the Browns in 2011, ensued.

As for 2012, McCoy's slogan is hardly "four more years."

That's putting the horse way ahead of the cart for any Browns quarterback post-1999, even one familiar enough with colloquialisms to have told his teammates "the hay is in the barn" just prior to his NFL debut here a year ago.

McCoy's candidacy to return to the job next season -- hopefully with more horses, more hay and a bigger barn -- is what the rest of this season is all about. Hard as he tried, Thursday didn't exactly produce the convincing results he needs to fend off all competition.

McCoy was terrific to start, actually stretching the field on long completions to Moore, Josh Cribbs and Mohamed Massaquoi. Yes, "stretching the field." Don't bother looking it up in the lexicon of football terms. It has actually been in use in every NFL city, and in Green Bay on every play.

This was the offense you've seen other teams showcase on TV. You know, the kind that by comparison makes the Browns look like they're playing croquet.

Shurmur's decision to go for a field goal on the first drive was understandable in the traditional football sense. For a 4-8 team showing rare first-drive aggression and in need of a morale boost, why not give McCoy a shot on fourth-and-goal from the 2-yard line?

The ensuing Pittsburgh drive quickly restored order as the Steelers erased the Browns' field goal with a touchdown. An unsightly tussle followed, with McCoy contributing an ugly throw intercepted by safety Troy Polamalu between two Steelers' fumbles.

The playing field evened momentarily when Roethlisberger left the game with 5:59 remaining in the second quarter after the Browns bent him the wrong way on a sack. At the time, Roethlisberger was 8-of-9 for 102 yards and a touchdown, his only incompletion coming after a Shurmur challenge flag overturned a reception.

But the Browns did nothing with the field position, McCoy missing two throws in that stretch. When Roethlisberger limped out behind center in the second half, only a Browns' goal-line stand with Pittsburgh ahead, 7-3, and Steelers mistakes kept the visitors' hopes intact.

The Browns fell back into old habits, though, throwing short and trying to make a Peyton Hillis-Montario Hardesty tandem work. McCoy got his best chance to re-create the end of the Miami game -- his brightest moment of the season -- when Mike Adams picked off Roethlisberger with 7:10 remaining and returned it to the Browns' 44.

Harrison's cheap shot interrupted the effort. McCoy's toughness isn't a question. After Seneca Wallace's good if brief work in relief, McCoy wiped the cobwebs away -- or didn't.

Intentional grounding. William Gay's interception. Game over, a different game than a year ago.

Heinz Field made an appropriate polling place for McCoy's run to keep the job in 2012. This is where it all started for him last season.

That much is undeniable. The "it" part remains somewhat undetermined.

What exactly was it? A long career as a starter? Or just another Browns quarterback in a long line of them rolling off the assembly line, all bright, shiny but fatally flawed.

A year later, he's 0-8 in the division as a starter and 6-15 overall.

And now we move to the Arizona caucus next Sunday for more results.

To reach Bud Shaw: bshaw@plaind.com,216-999-5639

On Twitter: @budshaw


Browns have their chances after goal-line stand, but can't convert in 14-3 loss -- Fourth-quarter update

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Ben Roethlisberger connects with Antonio Brown on a 79-yard touchdown pass as the Steelers seal the 14-3 victory.

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PITTSBURGH, Pa. -- Notes, observations and some facts on the fourth quarter between Browns and Steelers:

• Press box announcements: Fullback Owen Marecic is out with a head injury. Safety Eric Hagg has an eye injury and his return is questionable. In this game, Marecic and TE Ben Watson have both suffered their second head injuries of the season.

• Big Ben Roethlisberger might be hobbling, but he's making every pass he needs to. His 27-yard zip to Antonio Brown brings the Steelers to the Browns 24.

• Two plays later, Big Ben finds receiver Mike Wallace -- but no Browns defenders can. Wallace powers to the end zone as Browns cornerback Joe Haden blows past him in an attempt to tackle him. Referee signals for a touchdown, but a review of the play calls Wallace down at the 2.

• Goal line stands are quickly becoming a specialty, and Browns had another incredible stop. Four times, the Steelers rushed Mendenhall toward the end zone. Four times, the Browns stopped him. Linebacker Chris Gocong was instrumental in every tackle, and safety Mike Adams was in the mix on the last two stops.

• But the offense can't move the ball beyond the 5. Punter Brad Maynard's MVP game came to a screeching halt with a 33-yard punt that set up the Steelers at the Browns 38.

• Roethlisberger's pass deep to tight end Heath Miller is intercepted by safety Mike Adams. Adams returns the ball 29 yards to kick-start the offense from the Browns 44.

• Linebacker James Harrison, he of the helmet-to-helmet hits, strikes again. This time it's his noggin straight into the face of McCoy. Referees flag Harrison for the hit, but McCoy is out with 5:49 left. Seneca Wallace enters at the Steelers 19 and completes a 13-yard pass to Evan Moore. McCoy returns.

McCoy is called for intentional grounding when pressured by Troy Polamalu and Harrison on second-and-goal from the 6. His third-down pass from the 16 is short and behind Massaquoi and intercepted by cornerback William Gay.

• Roethlisberger finds Antonio Brown, who eludes a falling Joe Haden at the Steelers 34 and scores a 79-yard touchdown. Steelers put the game away with 2:52 left.

Browns vs. Steelers: Listen to post-game show

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Join The Plain Dealer's Dennis Manoloff and cleveland.com's Joey Morona after the game as they break down what happened in Pittsburgh between the Browns and Steelers at Heinz Field.

browns vs steelersListen to the post-game show with Dennis Manoloff.

Listen as The Plain Dealer's Dennis Manoloff and cleveland.com's Joey Morona break down the Browns' 14-3 loss to the Steelers at Heinz Field on the post-game show.

Click on the play button to listen or download the MP3 here as Manoloff and Morona talk about these topics:

- Should Seneca Wallace have stayed in the game?

- Who's to blame for this loss?

- What's up with a defense that can't stop Ben Roethlisberger on one leg?

- Should James Harrison be fined or suspended for his hit on Colt McCoy?

- Can Greg Little ever be a reliable receiver?

How big is the gap between the Browns and the rest of the AFC North?

Colt McCoy can't recall James Harrison's hit, injures his left hand: Cleveland Browns Insider

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McCoy not only has his bell rung, but he's also dealing with a hand injury after Harrison's crushing hit in the fourth quarter.

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PITTSBURGH, Pa. -- James Harrison did it again. Another helmet to helmet hit, another Browns player down writhing in pain.

Last year it was wide receivers Mohamed Massaquoi and Josh Cribbs. Both were smashed in the head by Harrison's helmet and both were knocked out cold. Both suffered concussions. Harrison was fined $75,000 for the hit on Massaquoi.

Thursday night, he drilled Colt McCoy helmet-to-helmet and McCoy remained down on the field for a minute. Harrison was flagged 15 yards for unnecessary roughness and can expect his fine from the league office next week.

"Honestly, I don't remember (the hit)," McCoy told the Elyria Chronicle-Telegram after the game.

McCoy remained out for two plays and the came back in the game, eventually throwing a deciding interception to the Steelers' William Gay.

"He was fine to go back in,'' said coach Pat Shurmur.

Shurmur was asked if Harrison's hit was a cheap shot.

"Well, I mean it was penalized, right?'' said Shurmur. "I think (the officials) felt it was, so it was penalized.''

Harrison disagreed with the penalty.

"From what I understand, once the quarterback leaves the pocket, he's considered a runner," Harrison said. "All the defenseless(ness) and liberties that a quarterback has in the pocket are gone and you can tackle him just as he's a running back. The hit wasn't late, so I really don't understand why it was called."

McCoy said he "was good enough" to go back in the game, although he did suffer an injury to his left hand.

"I was OK to go back in the game. I'm more worried about my hand," McCoy said. It's unclear how serious his hand injury is.

However, after the game, members of the Browns staff reportedly asked that television lights not be used while McCoy was talking to the media, which indicates McCoy might have been feeling lingering effects from the hit by Harrison.

"It got me for a little bit," he said. "He got my hand. I'm not sure how he got my hand. I was able to come back in the game, (but) I'd like to have that last play back.''

On the interception: McCoy explained what he saw on his pass intended for Massaquoi.

"They came after us and the pocket kind of collapsed in the middle,'' he said. "At that point, I was trying to work Polamalu, move him one way or the other. They had a post outside and a corner outside. I knew it was man-to-man because they were coming after us. I saw Mohamed one-on-one and and I just tried to give him a chance to make the catch.

"I just didn't get enough on it, I underthrew it and Gay made a nice play. Basically, that was the game.''

Big play on Big Ben: Defensive lineman Scott Paxson's first career sack could have a big impact on the rest of the season -- for the Steelers.

Paxson's sack with 5:59 left in the second quarter knocked Ben Roethlisberger out for the rest of the half with a high left ankle sprain.

Paxson tackled Roethlisberger low for the sack and Brian Schaefering wrapped him up high. Roethlisberger immediately grabbed the ankle after the hit and then remained down on the field for a few minutes. He hobbled into the locker room with the assistance of trainers and was put on a cart.

"I came from the backside,'' said Paxson. "I know he likes to hold onto the ball. I knew he didn't see me get a pretty good hit on him. I know Schaefering got him in the front and I got him from the back. Ben's a great athlete. I really wouldn't mind if he was out for the game. Just this game. I like Ben. I'm not trying to hurt him.''

Charlie Batch finished the half, but the Steelers punted three straight times.

Roethlisberger limped back onto the field after halftime, moving the Steelers to the Browns' 36, but the Steelers were forced to punt. Roethlisberger led the Steelers' on a fourth-quarter drive, but the Browns stopped it with a memorable goal-line stand.

"He's a warrior," said Paxson. "He definitely was hurt. He couldn't hide it. He wasn't as mobile, but we still had a problem getting back to him."

Roethlisberger responded with a 79-yard touchdown pass to Antonio Brown with 2:52 left to increase the Steelers' lead to 14-3.

Big plays at a big time: Linebacker Chris Gocong came up big on the goal-line stand, either making or assisting on stops of Rashard Mendenhall four straight times to keep the score 7-3, Steelers. Gocong drilled Mendenhall after a one-yard gain to the 1, knocked him back a yard on second down and then contributed on the final two stops.

Out of the game: Cribbs left early in the second quarter with a groin injury. He tried to shake it off on the sidelines, but soon was walking into the locker room. Cribbs was replaced on returns and in multiple receiver sets by Jordan Norwood.

Cribbs caught two passes for 38 yards in the first half, including one for 25 yards on the Browns' opening field-goal drive.

Meanwhile, tight end Ben Watson left late in the third quarter after he was hit by safety Ryan Clark on a short incompletion. Watson came up dazed and immediately was helped off by trainers. After a neurological exam on the sidelines, Watson jogged to the locker room. It was the second concussion suffered by Watson this season.

Fullback Owen Marecic left in the third quarter with a concussion. It was his second of the season. Rookie safety Eric Hagg left in the third quarter with an eye injury.

Airing it out: After 55 of the Browns' 70 passes in the previous two games were for 10 yards or less, McCoy completed passes of 33, 25, 25 and 17 yards in the first half.

Turnover fest: The defense came up huge on back-to-back drives in the first half, getting takeaways in the red zone.

On the first one, linebacker Kaluka Maiava forced Hines Ward to fumble after a catch at the Browns' 15 and Sheldon Brown recovered.

After Troy Polamalu picked off McCoy on the next drive, but the Browns got it right back, with Joe Haden forcing Heath Miller to fumble after a catch at the Browns' 8 and D'Qwell Jackson recovering.

Ground game: Peyton Hillis played despite suffering a hip injury last week, but was limited and spelled by Montario Hardesty and Chris Ogbonnaya. Hillis ran 10 times for 25 yards for the game and Hardesty ran 11 times for 24 yards. Best run of the half was by Ogbonnaya, who ripped off a 28-yard blast. He led the team with 31 yards in two carries.

On Twitter: @marykaycabot

Cleveland State coach Gary Waters left 'frustrated' by turnovers, missed 3s: Vikings Men's Basketball Insider

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Waters says the team must cut down on turnovers and other mental mistakes.

gary waters.JPGView full sizeCleveland State won on Thursday night, but coach Gary Waters isn't happy with his team's mistakes.

MOON TOWNSHIP, Pa. — Cleveland State head coach Gary Waters was much more composed after the Vikings' 62-58 victory against Robert Morris on Thursday night than he was during the action.

"Frustrating game," Waters said as he had to nurse the Vikings to a win after the team let a 16-point lead drip down to one with 49.7 seconds to play. "The reason why I was frustrated was turnovers. Every coach has his pet peeves. Mine is turnovers."

The coach liked the 21 the Vikings forced the Colonials into. He does not like the 19 CSU committed, or the mental errors that don't make the stat sheet, such as clock management, or hoisting quick 3-pointers with a big lead.

"Those are turnovers. We just don't get it yet. And these are seniors," he said.

Three-fense: Call it "three the hard way," as Cleveland State entered the Robert Mor ris game Thursday night leading the nation in 3-point shooting defense. While forcing turnovers gets a lot of attention for the Vikings, keeping teams from going on big scoring runs usually means limiting 3-pointers.

For the season, the opposition is shooting a collective 20.2 percent (22-of-109). During the past seven games, teams are shooting even worse, 10.6 percent (7-of-66). In those seven games, six of them on the road, no team has made more than two 3-pointers against the Vikings. That includes an 0 of 8 performance by Rhode Island on Nov. 27, marking the first time since 1996 that CSU held an opponent (Youngstown State) without a made 3-pointer. Of course, that changed at Robert Morris, as the Colonial made four 3-pointers in the first half and finished the game 7-of-16.

Broom city: For the second straight year, Cleveland State is looking for a sweep against Kent State and Akron. CSU hosts the Zips at 2 p.m. Saturday at the Wolstein Center. The Vikings already have a 57-53 victory against the Golden Flashes, so now they are looking to finish the job against the Zips (3-4), who have lost two straight games and four of their past five.

Mo and Mo: Senior guard Jeremy Montgomery played in his 116th straight game for the Vikings, which is currently eighth all time. Montgomery has never missed a game since coming to CSU and has started 65 straight. If Montgomery's streak extends to the end of the regular season, plus at least one Horizon League tournament game and one postseason tournament game, he will finish second all-time, with 138 straight games, to Norris Cole (139). If the Vikings have an extended tournament run, the record will be his.

Time change: The Toledo Rockets have asked, and Cleveland State has agreed, to push their Dec. 28 game time to 8 p.m. This is because the Rockets are playing a football bowl game earlier in the day.

Metroparks to require fishing-guide permits: Outdoors Notebook

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Cleveland Metroparks are following Lake Metroparks’ lead and will begin requiring fishing guides who take out anglers on its park properties to obtain a special guide permit starting Jan. 1.

fishing metroparksCleveland Metroparks are following Lake Metroparks’ lead and will begin requiring fishing guides who take out anglers on its park properties to obtain a special guide permit starting Jan. 1.

Cleveland Metroparks are following Lake Metroparks’ lead and will begin requiring fishing guides who take out anglers on its park properties to obtain a special guide permit starting Jan. 1.

The only major difference between the permits is Cleveland Metroparks is charging a $50 aannual fee, $100 for guides living outside Cuyahoga County.

Lake Metroparks’ guide licenses made their debut this year and are free. Both park agencies require guides to maintain liability insurance, which can be costly, and to have certified first-aid and CPR training.

“There has been a sharp increase in the number of fishing guides taking clients on the Rocky River, our major steelhead trout stream,” said aquatic biologist Mike Durkalec of Cleveland Metroparks. “Give the Lake Metroparks a lot of credit. A guide permit is a good idea. It has been promoted by the guides themselves and such fishing groups as the Ohio Central Basin Steelheaders.”

Anyone doing business in Cleveland Metroparks is required to pay a fee of some kind, Durkalec said, but fishing guides had been flying under park radar. To benefit the guides, Cleveland Metroparks will list them on its Internet site.

The Ohio Division of Wildlife requires Lake Erie fishing guides to buy a $50 annual license and have Coast Guard certification. Guides on Ohio’s inland waters haven’t needed a state guide license. Since 2006, all Pennsylvania guides need a state license. Residents pay $100; nonresident guides, $400.

Best on flies, fishing: Legendary fly-tier A.K. Best, 78, of Boulder, Colo., is presenting “Flies and Fishing” at Wednesday’s dinner and fishing program at The Trout Club of the Cleveland Museum of Natural History. To attend the dinner and Best presentation ($35), contact Karen Menn at 216-231-4600, Ext. 3278.

Best said his latest presentation is mostly about fishing for Colorado stream trout, but includes a couple of trophy brown trout he caught from a pond. Best, who still ties about 600 dozen custom flies each year for fly shops, likes to brag about Colorado stream fishing.

“The folks who grew up here [in Colorado] think the fishing is the best in the world,” he said in a telephone interview.

Best has authored fly-tying and fly-fishing books and produced videos that have helped a legion of new fly fishers fall in love with the sport.

Deer season II: With a 14 percent drop in the deer kill during the recent weeklong deer gun season, expect hunters to head back out for the bonus gun weekend on Dec. 17-18 to put some venison in the freezer. Hunters were hampered by big rains and chilly weather during the early days of deer gun week (Nov. 28-Dec. 4), killing 90,282 bucks and does during the short campaign, well short of the 105,034 deer taken last season.

Ohio sells discounted $15 antlerless deer permits, but they are now valid only for state-authorized, controlled hunts and in urban deer zones around major Ohio cities. The expanded deer bag limits in the three Ohio zones have also been reduced.

Many deer hunters will be back in the woods with archery gear or black-powder rifles. A prime reason, said Ohio’s head of deer management, Mike Tonkovich, is a four-month-long archery season that runs through Feb. 5. The statewide black-powder rifle season is Jan. 7-10.

To reach this Plain Dealer reporter:

degan@plaind.com, 216-999-5158


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